Joseph’s story can be read in Genesis chapters 37 through to 50. Joseph was the first born son of Rachel and the 11th of the 12 sons of Jacob. If you read the account of how this family came to be through one man, two sisters, and their two servants (Genesis 29-30), you might well conclude that they had a few issues with favouritism and jealousy. As we journey through Joseph’s story it becomes clear that the dysfunction has become multigenerational. And yet God has a purpose at work in this family, and through Joseph in particular.
Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them.
Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate robe for him. When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.
Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.”
His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said.
Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. “Listen,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.”
When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, “What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?” His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind. Genesis 37:2-11 (NIV)
It might be easy to question Jacob’s action as a parent here in giving an ornate robe. But we are starting to see some deeper things at work.
Questions:
- How does the gift alter Joseph’s relationship with his brothers?
- What is the cause of this favour from Jacob’s perspective? What about from Joseph’s brothers perspective?
- How would you define favouritism and how does it differ from favour?
- Have you experienced favouritism in your family? How has it impacted your family relationships?
Joseph is also given another gift at this point, though it was not obvious who the giver was. The dreams that Joseph receives are prophecies that will become a reality, as his father suggests, though for now they only serve to incite his brothers to jealousy.
Read Genesis 37:12-36
Ten brothers against one is bad odds, even if they don’t completely agree on whether to kill him, leave him trapped, or sell him. Joseph ends up being sold into slavery in Egypt.
Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there.
The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. Genesis 39:1-2
Throughout the story of Joseph we will see evidence of the presence of God in Joseph’s actions. While there must have been many conversations between Joseph and God they are not recorded in the story. What we will see are Joseph’s confidence in the power of God, God’s blessings evident in the actions of Joseph, and a determination by Joseph to do what is right. These are not unconnected. As we read chapter 39 we again witness Joseph go from favour to prison in a matter of moments.
Questions:
- How would you describe Joseph’s character at the point he is sold by his brothers?
- How would you describe his character when he refuses the advances of Potiphar’s wife?
When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, “This is how your slave treated me,” he burned with anger. Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined.
But while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did. Genesis 39:19-23
If Joseph ever prayed for a hedge of protection that he might live quiet and uneventful life he wasn’t listened to. It seems that his situation has gone from bad to worse, yet there is again evidence of God’s presence in his life.
Questions:
- What would you be asking God to do in Joseph’s situation?
- What gifting is evident in Joseph here?
Now read Chapter 40.
“We both had dreams,” they answered, “but there is no one to interpret them.”
Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.” Genesis 40:8
Questions:
- What does this tell you about Joseph’s understanding and relationship with God?
- Despite the opportunity, the cupbearer does not put in a good word for Joseph until two years later. How does Joseph use this time?
Read Genesis Chapter 41. Joseph is brought before Pharaoh, the most powerful man on the planet.
Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”
“I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.” Genesis 41:15-16
Joseph interprets the dream and suggests a plan to prepare for the coming famine. It’s interesting to see how through the previous years of hard experiences Joseph has develop a keen ability for administration, so that now as he interprets the dream, he is also able to demonstrate this gift before Pharaoh. And Pharaoh recognises the favour of God in Joseph, a foreign slave who has just been brought out of prison and given a shirt and a shave. Certainly wasn’t his impressive work history.
The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials. So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?”
Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.” Genesis 41:37-40
It might be possible to end the story here, as a wonderful reversal of fortune. The rejected boy rises from slavery to wealth, respect, and power. If the purpose of life is found in these things then surely Joseph is now at the high point. God has clearly been with Joseph, but what is the purpose of this journey? What about the dream that started it all?
Questions:
- When you think of your strengths, do you see how they fit into your sense of purpose?
- When might Joseph have become aware of his purpose in life?
- How does Joseph’s trust in God and his character in crisis prepare him?
Joseph now had a position of power that enabled him to use his talents in order to benefit those around him. On the other hand that’s exactly what he did as a slave and as a prisoner. Joseph prepares the whole country for the famine and is able to prevent the population from starving. He does this so well that news gets out that Egypt is the only place to go for food if you happen to be a nomadic extended family camping out in the desert with your sheep. He also manages to do it so well that the Pharaoh ends up owning most of the land in the country and the previously free citizens become bonded servants who would now give 20% of their income to Pharaoh each year (Genesis 47:13-26).
Read Genesis chapters 42-44.
Through a series of deceptions and interrogations Joseph learns the condition of his father and younger brother Benjamin. He also learns that his ten half brothers have been thinking about the consequences of their actions all those years ago too. Finally he reveals his identity to his brothers (Chapter 45)
Questions:
- Joseph was in a positon to punish his brothers, why did choose to forgive and bless?
- Does a sense of purpose make it easier to forgive, or does the ability to forgive make it easier to see purpose?
The vision given to Joseph at age 17 became a reality more than 20 years later:
Joseph was still in the house when Judah and his brothers came in, and they threw themselves to the ground before him. Joseph said to them, “What is this you have done? Don’t you know that a man like me can find things out by divination?”
“What can we say to my lord?” Judah replied. “What can we say? How can we prove our innocence? God has uncovered your servants’ guilt. We are now my lord’s slaves—we ourselves and the one who was found to have the cup.”Genesis 44:14-16
How would you expect the feelings of the dream to differ from the emotional realties of its later fulfilment?
Joseph’s brothers continued to live in fear that one day he would exact revenge against them.
When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.
His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said.
But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them. Genesis 50:15-21
How would you describe Joseph’s character now?
How has that character growth enabled him to fulfil his purpose?
Imagine you are at a similar stage in your life, what would you say to describe how God has been with you and what would you see as the major purpose of your life?
Joseph’s circumstances never prevented him from using his gifts to help others. His story is also an example of how those gifts are sometimes more obvious to others than to ourselves. Making sense of dreams and administration seemed to come easily to Jacob, but his life developed in new ways when others recognised it and acted.
As an exercise this week, whenever you see someone doing something that is above the norm, make a point to tell them they are good at it, and be specific.